Surprise! GPS satellites threatened more by mild solar storms than monster sun flares

Satellites of the U.S. Global Positioning System orbit 12,550 miles above Earth.

Mild solar storms can cause more serious problems to GPS satellites than once-in-a-century events, a new study has found.

Storms that erupt from the sun create challenges for satellites in Earth's orbit. Scientists are trying to understand these events better to help operators protect their spacecraft. And sometimes, they find surprises.